DIY for Homeowners

​by Vicki ​Sign up to get Mother Daughter Projects updates in your email!

​For some reason, I had a box of puppy pads at my house. I probably got them at a yard sale with the thought of using them in some way. Well, use them I have, and none of them involve a puppy!

In the Kitchen:This has got to be the best non-puppy use ever! I’ve always struggled to contain the mess from opening fresh meat packages. On the 4th of July I was prepping ribs and dreading the thought of how to contain all the “juices.” Inspiration struck and I thought, “puppy pads would absorb the mess AND keep the counter clean." Out to the garage I went to get one, spread it on the counter, opened the package of ribs, AND, it worked perfectly! No mess, no counter clean-up, just gather up the used pad and toss it in the trash! It worked for bagged chicken also!

In the Garage:
Puppy pads work as a mini waterproof drop cloth for small messy, leak prone projects like painting or staining. Bonus, I found I could pour a little mineral spirits on the pad to dip and wipe small paintbrushes to clean them of solvent based paints/stains.

In the Craft Room:Just like in the garage, puppy pads are great to use underneath painting and glueing projects. If you use your dining room table as a work surface, like me, it will protect it from potential damage.

In the Playroom:My grandkids LOVE to do science experiments with Oma, which usually means spraying vinegar on baking soda under which is hidden food coloring. A puppy pad keeps all the overflow vinegar/food coloring mess absorbed, the table protected, and it makes clean-up a breeze. I guess you could always tuck one into the shirt of your 3 year old grandson to contain the mess that ends up on his shirt too!

We found them in bulk at Costco the other day!

​What are some other ways puppy pads could be used? Leave your ideas in the comments below!